Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Rapid Lesson Sharing

A lesson is learned when we change our behavior.

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Rapid Lesson Sharing

Listed below are the latest Rapid Lesson Sharing submissions.

If you have a lesson, share it so others can learn. Remember, your lesson could be a success, a way of doing things in a more efficient or safer way, a close call…anything others could learn from.

257 Fire Rhabdo Incident
(556.57 bytes pdf posted 4/18/2013)
A Hotshot Captain was scouting the day’s operation when he began to experience muscle cramps. Already well hydrated, he stopped to rest and drank more water. He eventually decided to hike back to the crew vehicles. But the cramps became worse and eventually necessitated a medical evacuation. He was flown to a Level 1 trauma center where he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis (Rhabdo).

Hotshot IMT Integration RLS
(370KB pdf posted 2/13/2013)
While assigned to this incident, five of the Bitterroot IHC members worked with Command & General Staff for five operational periods in Finance, Logistics, Safety, Plans, and GIS. The Bitterroot IHC Superintendent served as an operations section chief (T) and crew members were integrated into all functional areas of the Incident Management Team. Crew members were fully immersed and exposed to a multitude of tasks and responsibilities of the Command & General Staff.

Africanized Honey Bee Attack – Marsh Prescribed Fire
(246.2 bytes pdf posted 11/9/2012)
Rapid Lessons Sharing – Africanized honey bee swarm attacks wildland firefighters during prescribed fire prep in Texas. What lessons have we learned from this event?

Crown Fire Behavior RLS
(325.85 bytes pdf posted 8/24/2012)
Mountain pine beetle impacted forests across the Rocky Mountains are currently exhibiting extremely rapid transitions from surface to crown fires. In at least two recent incidents, firefighters have had to disengage and retreat to safety zones. This “Rapid Lessons Sharing” discusses lessons and mitigations that will help firefighters be better prepared to identify and react to these rapid fire transition conditions.

Lighthouse Fire Tree Felling RLS
(277.32 bytes pdf posted 8/22/2012)
“A few seconds into the cut, I thought better of it . . .” This remarkable “Rapid Lesson Sharing” submission spotlights—through a C-Faller’s first-person account—the importance of observing risk, situational awareness, and the value of sharing knowledge through stories.

Little Sand IMT Rapid Lesson
(315.06 bytes pdf posted 8/16/2012)
The Command and General Staff conducted a vehicle accident scenario with their staffs and Unit Leaders that involved a vehicle crash with serious injuries. The practice scenarios were a valuable learning tool for some personnel and a refresher for others. The next day, at 0724 hours, a serious two-vehicle accident occurred within 100 yards from the ICP entrance.

Engine Night Driving RLS
(213.91 bytes pdf posted 7/30/2012)
During IA, the Type 4 Engine was securing the west flank of the fire. Conditions at the time (2130) were dark and smoky. The driver was staying close to the edge of the black—approximately 20 yards from the drop-off to a creek running through the middle of the fire. Due to low visibility, the front driver’s side wheel went over the edge.

Battery Caused Fire on Type 6 Engine
(199.58 bytes pdf posted 7/13/2012)
At approximately 0600 hours, a Type 6 brush engine was driving to a daily AAR. The engine operator pulled to the side to allow several crew transport vehicles to pass. As he returned to the road, several crewmembers were waving and yelling: “Stop! You’re on fire!”

Engine Tire Blowout RLS
(170.27 bytes pdf posted 7/11/2012)
While traveling at a speed of 62 mph, with three firefighters on board, the left front tire on this Type 4 Engine blows out.

Little Sand Fire Helicopter RLS
(255.56 bytes pdf posted 7/10/2012)
A Bell 205 Helicopter is assigned to shuttle hand crews (four loads/trips) into H-24 between 0800-1000. The first two loads of personnel are delivered without any problems. During the third shuttle, the pilot notices a slight soft left pedal issue, but successfully lands and unloads his passengers.

Whitewater Baldy Aviation RLS
(261.39 bytes pdf posted 7/10/2012)
The process to arrive at the implementation of this successful mission is just one example of how the Aviation Group used the Risk Management Process to analyze the probability of exposure to personnel/aircraft and the consequences of failure/mitigations to determine mission acceptance of rotor and fixed-wing use on the Whitewater-Baldy incident.

Whitewater Baldy Helibase RLS
(262.52 bytes pdf posted 7/10/2012)
Suppression rehabilitation efforts call for the removal of protective wrapping from a historic cabin located in the Gila Wilderness. The cabin is located at 11,000 feet with a designated helispot for solely a T3 Helicopter. The Helicopter Manager, Helibase Manager, and Operations Section Chief perform a risk analysis discussion concerning this proposed mission.

Drip Torch Malfunction RLS
(410.09 bytes pdf posted 4/2/2012)
We were on a large wildfire yesterday where we needed to do a significant burnout and one of our drip torches would not flow fuel. It acted clogged, but when we disassembled, air flowed freely through every part. We put it out of service, used another, and this morning had time to delve into it further.

Rapid Lessons Sharing: North Carolina Medical Incident Summary
(438.77 bytes pdf posted 1/23/2012)
The crew member is moving noticeably slower than normal. His respiratory rate is unusually rapid. Half way through the run, he starts complaining of thirst. His right leg begins to cramp. His squad boss—a certified wilderness first responder—has him slow down to assess his condition, what appears to be possible severe dehydration. He notices that the crew member’s speech is beginning to slur and he is becoming more aggressive and disoriented. The squad boss directs three crew members to get a crew vehicle.

Helicopter Loading RLS
(416.13 bytes pdf posted 11/2/2011)
A round saw file that was wedged between the bar oil and fuel container of the dolmar became dislodged and the file remained hanging from the basket. The file was noticed and removed from the dolmar and the basket. When the file was discarded from underneath the rotor disk area the file struck a main rotor blade. Upon notification, the pilot then shut the helicopter down.

Wedge Recoil RLS
(546.31 bytes pdf posted 10/27/2011)
Concerning the wedges with the metal strike plate (1st attachment). While felling an elm 18'' DBH, 4'-5' back lean, I did not hit the wedge strike plate flush causing it to break off (2nd attachment). I looked at the wedge it appeared serviceable (less the strike plate) and like any other of the plastic type wedges we use.

Disclaimer: Information is provided with the intent to share knowledge to improve safety, performance, efficiency and organizational learning throughout the entire wildland fire community. However, no warranties or guarantees are implied because much of the data provided is beyond the control of the Center. No endorsement of any company or product is given or implied.